Fuel and process of making the same.



c. L. WAGNER.

'FUEL AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7.1919.

1 ,3 1 7 950. Patented Oct. 7,1919.

6 fave/n 0?" mifniss I v 6M I JNIT' ED STATE-S" PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. WAGNER, on NEW YORK, N. Y., AssIGNon'. T s. s'mmmu a COMPANY, me, or BROOKLYN; NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

I FUEL AND rnoenss or MAKING THE sum. 7

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. WAGNER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, clty,

county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Fuel and Process of Making the Same, 'of which the following is a specification.

The'invention relates to that class'of fuel known variously as solid alcohol, solidified alcohol or hard alcohol. Such a fuel is com posed mainly of alcohol which is so mixed with other ingredients that the resulting product presents a solid mass which may be handled, and which will retain its shape and form'without being confined in a recepitacle having the form in which the fuel is fashioned, and which will not melt under the heat of the flame which consumes it.

Such a fuel, as far as known, is composed of a base of nitrated cotton or pyroxylin in which the alcohol is held. The proportion of pyroxylin to the alcohol must be rela--- tively large in order that. the alcohol will be retained in the mass and be prevented from leaking out. Such fuels are objectionable, among other reasons, because of the fact that the relatively large amount of pyroxylin in burning will sputter and flash, and sparks will be thrown off from the burning mass to a considerable distance. This is not only objectionable, but it also extremely dangerous:

The Ob]66tS of the present invention are to provide a solid fuel composed largely of alcohol, which will not melt, which 'will burn quietly but with an intense heat, which will deposit very little soot, which will not fiash or sputter during combustion which will leave a very small amount of ash, which is non-explosive, which will be safe and cheap to manufacture, use and transport,

and which will have no objectionable odor.

These and further objects will more fully appear in the following specification and accompanying drawings considered together or separately.

One method of carryin out the process and producing the solid uel of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by similar reference characters, and in which Figure 1 is a sectional View of a form of Specification of Letters Patent;

' Patented 0ct. '7,'1919. 7

i Application filed April 7, 1919. Serial No. v288,195.

apparatus for carrying out one step ofthe process, and. I

Fig. 2 is a similar view of means for carrying out another step in the process.

In the drawings a tank 1 is illustrated This tank may be of any desired construction and of any convenient size.. In the bottom of the tank is located a pipe or coil 2 by-means of which air or other fluid may be conveyed to the tank from a suitable source (not shown). Within the tank the pipe or coil is perforated to permit of the escape of the air or other fluid.

Within the tank is placed a solution 0011+, taining roughly 1 part ether and 4 parts alcohol 188 proof. The alcohol may be pure or denatured, and for economic reasons denatured alcohol of. United States Government formula No. '1, pyridin free, is employed. Into the ether-alcohol solution is placed carefully dehydrated cotton in .finely divided form, until the mixture assumes the consistencyof honey. This -solution is the preferred pyroxylin of the process.

To 188 proof denatured alcohol at a temperature of from 40 to 50 C. add a small quantity of ammonium nitrate. Of the am.- monium nitrate alcoholsolution take approximately three times the bulk 'of the pyroxylin, and stir a quantity of bagascello approximately equal in bulk to the pyroxylin into. the alcohol ammonium nitrate solution.

The above mixture is now added to the pyroxylin in the tank 1 and air is forced through the pipe 2 to aerate the mixture and remove part of the ether from the mass. The aeration will continue until the characteristic odor of the ether is barely noticeable. 1

Water in the form of a spray or jet is now forced into the mixture, while the latter is being stirred slowly, until the mixture thickens. The thick mixture is put up in the form desired, and is ready for use.

Ammonium nitrate has a liquefying efi'ect 'm on the solution when heated, thereby per-i mitting dilution, without cracking of. tl1e pyroxylin beyond the point possible without the use of large quantities of ether, acetone, wood alcohol, or the higher alcohols.

If the fuel is to be dispensed in a can such as shown at 3 in Fig. 2 of the drawings the aerating and hydratingsteps of the process may be carried out in the can by admitting the water-through a pipe 4t. The water issuing under pressure from the perforations 5/.

added to the ammonium nitrate alcohol solution before the latter is mixed with the pyroxylin in order that it, the bagascello may absorb as much of the alcohol ammonium nitrate solution as possible before the pyroxylin is mixed in.

The bagascello will absorb the alcohol ammonium nitrate solution freely and in addition, the solution will adhere to the surface a of each particle of the bagascello. When the pyroxylin 1S added and the mixture is ag1- tated the pyroxylin is distributed throughout the mass and the removal of the ether or the addition of Water or both will cause the cotton to become partially precipitated and resume more or less its fibrous character and act as a binder for the saturatedbagascello particles.

Such of the liquid content of the mixture as is not taken up by the bagascello will adhere to the partially precipitated cotton and there will be no free liquid in the mass.

Bagascello is readily combustible in the mixture, burns quietly and without flaring and sputtering and leaves less than 2% ash.

Ammonium nitrate when decomposed by the heat of combustion'at the surface of the mass furnishes free oxygen, which causes complete combustion of the small particles of the partially precipitated cotton as they reach the surface and become dried. This will prevent the formation of a film of cotton on the surface of the mass and the consequent flaring as the relatively large amount of cottom becomes ignited. The burning surface of the fuel is always clean, and the heat of the flame is acting on fresh material at all times during burning. The oxygen released by the decomposition of the ammonium nitrate aids combustion and reduces sooting.

The base of the fuel is bagascello. Almost the entire liquid content is carried by the bagascel-lo, and the relatively small amount of cotton present will, on its partial precipitation, form a net work throughout the mass and bind the liquid carrying particles together. The bagascello is not nitrated in the-mixture, but its physical characteristics remain unchanged. It is simply a vehicle for carrying the liquid.

The bagascello used is the pith cell of the sugar cane as distinguished from the fibro vascular bundle cells. The pith elements are non-fibrous in structure, and are, in efiect, bubbles of cellular material, filled with air. The alcohol-ammonium solution penetrates the walls ,of the bubbles by osmosis and displaces the air. Some of the solution adheres to the surface of the bagascello particles by adhesion. Bagascello will burn readily in the mixture before it becomes dry. In this respect it differs from cotton which must become dry before it will ignite.

The nitrocellulose component of the fuel of the present invention is small and, because of the free oxygen at the burning surface of the mixture, each minute particle of it as it reaches the surface is ignited and the flare produced is so small as to be negligible and unnoticeable.

When the fuel is to be'made in cube form and burned in a container which is not filled by the cube, a higher percentage of nitrocellulose is desirable, because of the fact that the cubes must withstand more or less rough handling, and the liquid bearing particles should be more firmly bound together. When for use as just above described a 2% nitro-cellulose pyroxylin is desirable.

Instead of marketing the fuel in cans in which it is to be burned, or in air tight contrainers holding a number of bare cu'bes intended to be removed from the container and burned separately, the fuel may be put up in gelatin capsules of any desired size or shape. The capsules will prevent losses by evaporation and the fuel carrying capsules may be sold loose or in paper or cardbdard cartons. When so packed the fuel may contain the low nitrated pyroxylin if desired. The fuel may be cut to fit-the cap sules or it may be made in the capsules.

To prevent sooting wood alcohol may be employed in the mixture. When wood alcohol is used it should not exceed 25% of the complete mass. A 10%' wood alcohol content, is however preferable. The wood alcohol may form apart of the ammonium nitrate denatured alcohol solution by substituting the wood alcohol for an equal volume of denatured alcohol.

The wood alcohol may be added as the final step in the mixing, in which case a correspondingly smaller amount of denatured alcohol will be used in making the ammonium nitrate denatured alcohol solution.

While bagascello of sugar cane is, because of its cheapness and abundance, the preferred base material, it is to be understood that the pith of other plants such. as corn, sorghum, elder, etc., may be employed.

The process carried out with the various materials in the following proportions gives !good results:

In 5 grams of ether, and 20V grams of denatured alcohol 188 proof, is dissolved-.9

' gramof dehydrated cotton (preferably a mono-nitrate) This forms the pyroxylin.

I A solution of from 1 to 5 grams of ammowhile still limpid, approximately 88 grams of it are poured into a can such as that shown in vFig. 2. About 12 grams of water infinely divided form. is forced into the mass in the can causing an immediate solidification of the mass.

The aerating step of the process may be dispensed with and the water relied upon to solidify the mixture.

A very satisfactory solid fuel may be made by soaking bagascello in alcohol (grain or-wood) and when thebagascello has absorbed as much of the liquid as possible, the mass is placed in a can or other receptacle and is ready for use, or the can may be filled or partly filled with bagascello and the alcohol poured therein until the limit of absorption is reached.

Instead of using bagascello as the base of the'mixture any non-fibrous material which will absorb the liquid employed, and which will burn in the mixture may be used. H

The addition of water in the rocess may be dispensed with if desired. he removal of the ether by theJair blast may be carried to such an extent as to partially precipitate the nitrated cotton, whlch is not soluble in grain alcohol. As the ether is removed t e ercentage of the water content of the alco- 01 will be raised and this will materially assist in the partial precipitation of the nitro cellulose.

When making the ammonium nitrate alcohol solution the former may be added in quantity sufiicient to prevent cracking or precipitation of the mixture when rapidly added to the pyroxylin mixture while stirring. The ammonium-nitrate may be as low as 1% of the alcohol and should not be more than 5%.

In addition to the ammonium nitrate, any other material having the property of liberating free oxygen during combustion, and being itself reduced may be employed. The use of such substances'will assist combustion and reduce sooting. Examples of such materials are manganese, dioxid, and lead peroxid.

' Bagascello is the name given in the West. Indies to the interior, cellular, non-fibrous pith cells of bagasse or megass, as distinguished from. the woody, fibrous portion of -the sugar cane. It may be separated from the hard, woody, fibrous outer-rind of the cane by screening as is common in preparing the sifted bagasse or ine gass powder for the manufacture of molascuit, a stock food. The material may be further sifted by air flotation whereby the smallest and lightest cellular, non-fibrous particles are'recovered. In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principle of the invention Has been described together with what is now considered to be the best embodiment thereof; but'it is to be understood that the apparatus and process shown and described are merely illustrative, and that the lIIVBIl-r tion may be carried out in other ways.

Having-now described the invention what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is- 1. The process of making a solid fuel, which comprises adding alcohol to a cellular non-fibrous material. i

2. The process of making a solid fuel, whichcomprises adding pyroxylin and alcohol to a cellular, non-fibrous material.

.3. The process of making a solid fuel, which comprises adding pyroxylin, water and alcohol to acellular, non-fibrous material.

4. The process of making solid fuel, which comprises adding alcohol to a cellular, nonfibrous cellulose.

w 5; The process of making solid fuel, which comprises adding pyroxylin and alcohol to a non-fibrous cellulose.

6. The process of making solid fuel, which comprises adding pyroxylin, water and alcohol to a non-fibrous cellulose.

7. The process of making a solid fuel, which comprises adding alcohol to bagascello.

8. The process of making a 'solid fuel, which comprises adding pyroxylin and alcohol to bagascello. i

9. The process of making a solid fuel, which comprises adding pyroxylin, water and alcohol to bagascello.

10. The process of making a solid fuel, which comprises adding pyroxylin and alcohol to bagascello, and removing a portion at least of an ingredient of the pyroxylin.

11. The process of making a solid fuel, which comprises adding pyroxylin and alcohol to bagascello, removing a portion at least of an ingredient of the pyroxylin, and adding water to the mass.

12. The process of making a solid fuel, which comprises adding pyroxylin, alcohol and ammonium nitrate to a non-fibrous material.

13. The process of making a solid fuel, which comprises adding pyroxylin, alcohol, ammonium nitrate and water to a' nonfibrous material.

14. The process of making a solid fuel, which comprises adding pyroxylin, alcohol and ammonium nitrate to a non-fibrous maof the pyroxylin,

terial, and removing a portion at least of one ingredient of the pyroxylin.

15. The process of making a solid fuel, which comprises adding pyroxylin, alcohol and ammonium nitrate to a non-fibrous material, removing a portion at least of one ingredient of the pyroxylin, and adding water to the mixture.

16. The process of making a solid fuel, which comprises adding pyroxylin, alcohol,

and ammonium nitrate to a non-fibrous.

cellulose.

.17. The process of making a solid fuel, which comprises adding pyroxylin, alcohol, ammonium nitrate and water to a nonfibrous cellulose.

18. The process of making a solid fuel, which comprises adding pyroxylin, alcohol and ammonium nitrate to a non-fibrous cellulose, and removing a portion at least of one ingredient of the pyroxylin.

' 19. The process of making a solid fuel, which comprises adding pyroxylin, alcohol and ammonium nitrate to a non-fibrous cellulose, removing a portion at least of one ingredient of the pyroxylin, and adding wa ter to the mixture.

20. The process of making a solid fuel, which comprises adding pyroxylin,-alcohol and ammonium nitrate to a bagascello.

21. The process of making a solid fuel,

which comprises adding pyroxylin, alcohol, ammonium nitrate and water to a bagascello. 22. The process of making a solid fuel,

which comprises adding pyroxylin, alcohol and ammonium nitrate to a bagascello, and removing a portion at least of one ingredient of the pyroxyglin.

23. The process of. making a solid fuel, which comprises adding pyroxylin, alcohol and ammonium nitrate to a bagascello, re moving a portion at least of one ingredient and adding water to the mixture.

24. A process of. making a solid .fuel, which comprises dissolving nitrated cotton in ether and alcohol, mixing alcohol, ammonium nitrate and bagascello, adding the mixture to the solution, and removing a portion at least of the ether.

25. A process of making a solid fuel, which comprises dissolving nitrated cotton in ether 'and alcohol, mixing alcohol, ammonium nitrate and bagascello, adding the mixture to the solution, removing a portion at least of the ether, and adding water to the mixture. I

26. The process of making. a solid fuel,

which comprises dissolving a fibrous nitrated cellulose in ether and denatured alcohol, mixing bagascello in ammonium nitrate and denatured alcohol, adding the mixture to the solution, forcing air through the mass, and forcing water in finely divided condition into the mass.

27. The process of making a solid fuel, which comprises making a less than one per cent solution of mono-nitrate of cotton in approximately 5 parts ether and 20 parts denatured alcohol of high proof, dissolving approximately 5 parts ammonium nitrate in approximately 7 5 parts denatured alcohol of high proof, mixing approximately 24,; parts of b-agascello to the last named solution at a temperature of about 50 (3., aerating the mixture to remove a portion at least of the ether, and adding approximately 12 arts of water to the mass.

28. A solid fuel, comprising a cellular, non-fibrous material and alcohol.

29. A solid fuel, comprising a cellular, non-fibrous cellulose and alcohol.

30. A solid fuel, comprising bagascello and alcohol. 5

31. A solid fuel, comprising bagascello, ammonium nitrate and alcohol.

32. A solid fuel, comprising bagascello, pyroxylin, ammonium nitrate, alcohol and water.

33. A solid fuel, consisting of a base comprising bagascello impregnated with alco- 1101, and a binder of partially precipitated pyroxylin.

34.. A solid fuel, consisting of a base comprising bagascello impregnated with ammonium nitrate and alcohol, and a binder of partially precipitated pyroxylin.

35. A solid fuel, consisting of a base comprising bagascello impregnated with ammonium nitrate, water and alcohol, and a binder of partially precipitated pyroxylin.

36. A solid fuel, comprising bagascello, nitrocellulose, ether, alcohol and ammonium nitrate.

37. A solid fuel, comprising bagascello, nitrocellulose, ether, ammonium nitrate.

38. A solid fuel, comprising a cellular non-fibrous material, nitro-cellulose, ether, alcohol, water and ammonium nitrate.

This specification signed and witnessed 1 this second day of April, 1919.

CHARLES L. WAGNER.

Witnesses:

J. F. COLEMAN, A. E. BENTON.

alcohol, water and 

